The head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section is urging residents to watch out for turtles crossing the roads as their nesting season is underway.
A snapping turtle climbing a fence in New Canaan in June 2020. Photo courtesy of the New Canaan Police Department
The season runs through June, when females leave their ponds to lay eggs on dry land.
The mother turtles often cross roads, according to Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm.
“The calls are coming in,” she said. “People still don’t seem to understand their determination—they are on a migratory path, so to speak, and nothing gets in their way. They’ve got to do what they’ve got to do.”
A turtle crossing the road on Pocconok Trail was struck by a vehicle Friday and succumbed to its injury, Halm said.
It’s important that residents do not relocate turtles or try to turn them around from the direction they’re headed in, she said.
This snapping turtle turned up July 8, 2017 in Richmond Hill Road with a fishhook caught in its mouth. Police, helped direct traffic around the reptile while Animal Control took it to South Wilton Veterinary, who anesthetized the animal and removed the fishhook. Animal Control then returned the turtle to Mead. Photo published with permission from its owner
“If you’re going to assist them, do it in the direction they’re already headed,” Halm said. “Certainly getting out of the road is important. We don’t have too many turtle bites here, but be careful handling them if you have to.”
Turtles love the fresh mulch in peoples gardens to lay eggs. “And they are going to leave their nest—it doesn’t really disrupt anything, and there’s not a whole lot we can do about it,” she said.
If added help is needed for a snapping turtle crossing the road, contact the New Canaan Animal Control at (203) 594-3510.
Be careful walking the trails. I almost stepped on one who was laying her eggs.
This was at Still Pond” The Fowler estate.